Laurent Mekies: Liam Lawson’s fate has nothing to do with me

Laurent Mekies has made clear that Racing Bulls, not Red Bull, will determine whether Liam Lawson keeps his place for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The decision remains open, with Arvid Lindblad expected to return for a second campaign and Nikola Tsolov also in contention.

Mekies said Red Bull may promote a Racing Bulls driver when an opening arises, but responsibility for choosing the team’s line-up belongs to Racing Bulls. He drew a distinction between offering a view and being the person who makes the call, and declined to publicly weigh in on Lawson’s prospects.

Lawson’s recent results strengthen his case

Lawson’s season has built a strong argument for retention. He has scored 89 points, more than twice the total of any other midfield driver, and has outperformed Lindblad on merit in both qualifying and races over the last five rounds. In that span, Lawson added 30 points, compared with 26 for George Russell.

He finished seventh in Brazil in difficult weather, crossing the line 36 seconds ahead of the next-best midfield driver, Nico Hulkenberg. Mekies praised Lawson’s latest performance and said the New Zealander had shown another step since returning to Racing Bulls after his earlier races with Red Bull.

The debate around his place has also been reflected in recent coverage of Lawson’s strong position after Brazil. Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has hinted that he would like to keep Lawson, while Permane has also said the team will take time over its 2027 line-up.

Tsolov remains in the picture as the team weighs its options

Tsolov had been considered the favourite for the seat after winning six races in the first half of the Formula 2 season. His form has since dipped, with qualifying performance among the factors cited. The contest therefore remains unresolved as Racing Bulls assesses its options.

Mekies said the team has the information and experience needed to make the call. He noted that Red Bull and Racing Bulls share a junior programme, and that successful Racing Bulls drivers can be promoted to Red Bull, as happened with Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. But he stressed that this does not give him authority over Racing Bulls’ driver choice.

With no reason to hurry from Red Bull’s perspective, Mekies said it was reasonable for Racing Bulls to take its time. Lawson’s results have made the decision increasingly consequential, but Mekies has left the responsibility firmly with the team that owns the seat.